Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ibrahim Ramalan
Published on 2024-03-28 22:05:21
The House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee has issued a stern warning to the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Zacch Adedeji, for repeatedly failing to appear before the committee when summoned. The committee views Adedeji’s actions as a sign of contempt towards parliament, as he neglected to attend the investigative hearing on revenue leakages in Abuja.
Bamidele Salam, the Chairman of the PAC, expressed his disappointment with Adedeji’s behavior, noting that this was the fourth time the FIRS chairman had been invited but failed to show up. Salam emphasized that the committee had sent official letters and even ensured that they were delivered personally to Adedeji’s mailbox and WhatsApp number.
The chairman made it clear that Adedeji’s behavior was unacceptable, irresponsible, and arrogant. He warned that there would be consequences if Adedeji continued to disregard the committee’s summonses. Salam highlighted the issue of value-added tax (VAT) that should have been collected by FIRS from Remitta but had not been done so. He pointed out that some VAT from the revenue collected by Remitta was supposed to go to FIRS but instead, it was shared with the Central Bank of Nigeria, the bank, and Remitta.
Salam revealed that after reconciliation, the amount of money involved could reach hundreds of billions of naira. The committee was eager for FIRS to collect this money, but the service consistently failed to show up for the hearings. The committee sees this as a clear sign of disregard for their authority and the responsibility of FIRS to be accountable for the revenue that should rightfully go to the government.
In light of Adedeji’s repeated absence and lack of cooperation, the PAC is considering taking further action to ensure that he complies with their requests and fulfills his duty to be transparent and accountable in managing government revenue. The committee is determined to address any leakages or discrepancies in revenue collection and is committed to holding all relevant entities accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the House of Representatives Public Accounts Committee is deeply concerned about the FIRS chairman’s repeated failure to attend hearings and address important issues related to revenue leakages. They have made it clear that there will be consequences if Adedeji continues to disregard their summonses and neglect his responsibilities as the head of a key government revenue agency. The committee remains steadfast in its commitment to ensuring transparency, accountability, and proper management of government funds.
Read the original article on DailyNigerian.com
